Chicago Fire

BRIDGEVILLE, ILL./TOYOTA PARK (20,000)

Coach: Frank Klopas (25-16-16, third season)

Outlook: The Fire traded forward Dominic Oduro to the Crew for midfielder Dilly Duka, and Duka
already has meshed well with fellow acquisitions Joel Lindpere and Jeff Larentowicz. Chicago is one
of the favorites for the conference title but will need to find a suitable replacement for Oduro’s
pace.

Columbus Crew

CREW STADIUM (20,145)

Coach: Robert Warzycha (62-46-36, sixth season)

Outlook: On paper, this team should be much-improved from last season’s, but there are bound to
be hiccups with so many new faces. After a preseason of optimism, however, there is quiet,
confident talk of the club making a surprise run this season.

D.C. United

WASHINGTON/RFK STADIUM (45,596)

Coach: Ben Olsen (29-31-20, fourth season)

Outlook: The club and midfielder Branko Boskovic, one of its designated players, mutually agreed
to part ways, but United has another designated player in Hamdi Salihi. Olsen has momentum on his
side, and D.C. again looks to be a serious contender in the conference.

Houston Dynamo

BBVA COMPASS STADIUM (22,000)

Coach: Dominic Kinnear (114-76-92, 10th season)

Outlook: Houston features one of the best home-field advantages in the league, but it will be
busy when it kicks off Champions League play three days after the regular-season opener. To get
back to its third straight MLS title game — and win it this time — Houston will need to develop
more depth.

Montreal Impact

SAPUTO STADIUM (20,341)

Coach: Marco Schallibaum (first season)

Outlook: The second season in franchise history also sees the second coach, as Schallibaum was
appointed to the position in early January, albeit on a one-year contract. Leading scorers Patrice
Bernier (nine goals) and Sanna Nyassi (six) return, and the Impact is hoping that Argentine forward
Andres Romero — signed on loan for the 2013 season — can add more firepower. This might be the
final season for 36-year-old central defender Alessandro Nesta.

New England Revolution

FOXBOROUGH, MASS./GILLETTE STADIUM (20,000)

Coach: Jay Heaps (9-17-18, second season)

Outlook: The Revolution turned to Heaps after finishing last in 2011, and in his first season,
he led the club out of the conference cellar — by one spot. If 18-year-old Diego Fagundez can join
the team’s core group, he would give Heaps a much-needed boost at forward. Otherwise, the
Revolution will continue to seek standout players in the midfield and up top, and continue to hang
out near the bottom of the standings.

New York Red Bulls

HARRISON, N.J./RED BULL ARENA (25,189)

Coach: Mike Petke (first season)

Outlook: With a new sporting director and coach, the Red Bulls are looking for ways to shore up
the defense. Kenny Cooper and his team-high 18 goals were traded to FC Dallas for allocation money
needed to keep the Red Bulls under the salary cap, leaving a definite need up top. Thierry Henry
remains one of the league’s most potent scorers, but the Red Bulls have holes to fill. They parted
ways with 16 players from last season, but they might add a third designated player this
summer.

Philadelphia Union

CHESTER, PA./PPL PARK (18,500)

Coach: John Hackworth (8-11-4, second season)

Outlook: The Union’s 37 goals were second fewest in the conference, but Jack McInerney and his
team-high eight goals return for his fourth season. Forward Conor Casey looks to be recovered from
an Achilles tendon injury, and if he can quickly mesh with Sebastien Le Toux and McInerney,
Philadelphia could improve offensively. That said, it has been a rough-looking preseason for the
Union.

Sporting Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, KAN./SPORTING PARK (18,467)

Coach: Peter Vermes (45-35-30, fifth season)

Outlook: Three players have spent parts of the past year with the U.S. national team, and Kansas
City signed forward Claudio Bieler from Ecuador as a designated player to help spark the offense.
The club will be without Kai Kamara, who is on loan to Norwich of the English Premier League , and
Roger Espinoza also is gone, leaving two big holes to fill.

Toronto FC

BMO FIELD (21,859)

Coach: Ryan Nelsen (first year)

Outlook: One of the ugliest seasons in MLS saw Toronto post a minus-26 goal differential last
year and finish with a league-worst 23 points, leading to plenty of turnover in the front office.
Veteran defender Danny Califf will add experience and consistency to the back line, but it will
take Nelsen time to start turning things around.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Chivas USA

CARSON, CALIF./HOME DEPOT CENTER (18,800)

Coach: Jose Luis Sanchez Sola (first season)

Outlook: Chivas has pulled off three trades since Feb. 13, including one that shipped Shalrie
Joseph to D.C. United for draft picks and other compensation. In addition, the contract of talented
Juan Agudelo is up at the end of the season, possibly forcing the club to entertain offers for his
services this summer. There is little depth at forward behind him. Adding to the lack of
continuity: Sola is known for constantly adjusting his tactics and lineups.

Colorado Rapids

COMMERCE CITY, COLO./DICK’S SPORTING GOODS PARK (18,000)

Coach: Oscar Pareja (11-19-4, second season)

Outlook: Midfielder Jaime Castrillon, last year’s leading scorer, will miss four to five months
after undergoing offseason knee surgery. However, after parting ways with Omar Cummings, Conor
Casey and Jeff Larentowicz, Colorado has hope that a group of youngsters can mature quickly while
getting significant playing time. The Rapids should be in the playoff hunt, but it is premature to
label them a favorite to reach the postseason.

FC Dallas

FRISCO, TEXAS/FC DALLAS STADIUM (20,500)

Coach: Schellas Hyndman (51-47-47, sixth season)

Outlook: Although Dallas selling Brek Shea to England’s Stoke City created a sizable void on the
roster, the club used the financial windfall to bring in two suitable replacements. Forwards Kenny
Cooper and Eric Hassli bring track records of success to the team and will pair with Blas Perez to
provide plenty of options up top. Third-year designated player Fabian Castillo should benefit from
the upgraded attack, as well. If Dallas can stay healthy and find a dependable goalkeeper, it
should be much-improved from a season ago.

Los Angeles Galaxy

CARSON, CALIF./HOME DEPOT CENTER (27,000)

Coach: Bruce Arena (150-80-44, 11th season)

Outlook: The two-time defending MLS Cup champion might be as dangerous as ever, despite David
Beckham’s departure. Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane return, and the Galaxy is likely to sign a
third designated player this summer. Donovan will be out for the first month or so after sitting
out preseason training, so it would not be a surprise if the team starts slowly.

Portland Timbers

JELD-WEN FIELD (20,438)

Coach: Caleb Porter (first season)

Outlook: Three years into its existence, Portland hired Porter, who turned Akron into a national
college power. He inherits a team lacking depth up front, although Ryan Johnson’s hat trick in his
first preseason game bodes well for the former Toronto striker. He could be the primary beneficiary
of the talents of Will Johnson and Diego Valeri in the midfield.

Real Salt Lake

SANDY, UTAH/RIO TINTO STADIUM (20,000)

Coach: Jason Kreis ( 61-54-47, seventh season)

Outlook: Fabian Espindola, Jamison Olave and Will Johnson are gone, and Kreis is hoping the
likes of Chris Schuler and Luis Gil are ready for the spotlight. Key defender Jamison Olave was
traded to New York as part of the offseason overhaul. Salt Lake might be a step below where it has
been in recent years, but it remains a playoff contender.

San Jose Earthquakes

SANTA CLARA, CALIF./BUCK SHAW STADIUM (10,300)

Coach: Frank Yallop (114-101-78, eighth season)

Outlook: The Earthquakes have kept last year’s Supporters’ Shield squad largely intact.
Three-time Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski is coming off a season in which he tied the MLS
record with 27 goals. Another magical run is possible but not likely.

Seattle Sounders

CENTURYLINK FIELD (38,500)

Coach: Sigi Schmid (172-118-94, 14th season)

Outlook: Noted scorer Fredy Montero is out on loan, and key defender Jeff Parke was traded to
Philadelphia, leaving two significant holes. The Sounders reportedly are close to acquiring forward
Obafemi Martins from Spain, but the defense could remain a problem. Seattle is still one of the
league’s elite teams.

Vancouver Whitecaps

BC PLACE STADIUM (22,000)

Coach: Martin Rennie (11-13-10, second season)

Outlook: Vancouver added talented scorers through the draft, but how much will they be able to
help Darren Mattocks? Vancouver’s 35 goals last season were third fewest in the league. Designated
player Kenny Miller scored only two goals after arriving at midseason. The defense should be strong
again, and Vancouver should solidify itself as a team on the rise.